Wild weather changes bring on the potholes

The perennial pothole, the bane of area motorists and scourge of busy road crews everywhere, is back, and this year they're early.

February and March are usually the prime months for pothole season, but recent fluctuations in temperatures the past few weeks have spawned an early crop in the region.

Temperatures went from sub-zero to the 50s and back down to freezing, and precipitation went from snow to rain and back to snow causing several early freeze-thaw cycles.

Paul J. Moosey, commissioner of the Worcester Department of Public Works, said he noticed quite a few potholes in Shrewsbury, Millbury and other surrounding communities last weekend. On Monday, there were about a half dozen calls to the city's customer service center to report potholes. On Tuesday it rained.

"By Tuesday and Wednesday, there were a ton of potholes," Mr. Moosey said. "We've had quite a few all week."

Mr. Moosey said extra crews have been out all week making repairs.

Local and state road crews throughout Central Massachusetts have been reaching out to motorists more than ever through public service announcements, message boards and social media for help in identifying and reporting potholes.

"We'll put out as many crews as we need to keep up," Mr. Moosey said.

Potholes result as water from snow and rain seeps into small cracks in the roadway surface, according to Massachusetts Department of Transportation. As temperatures drop, the water freezes and expands, making the cracks larger until potholes form.

"The real culprit is the precipitation itself," said Michael Verseckes, spokesman for Mass DOT. He said state highway crews have definitely been busy making pothole repairs.

Mr. Verseckes said state highway officials appreciate the heads-up from motorists on where potholes are located.

"And the more information on where the pothole is the better," Mr. Verseckes said. "What lane is it in, is there a nearby mile-marker, what stretch of a highway in a city or town, is it as big as a hubcap or as small as a tennis ball?"

Crews make two types of repairs, depending on temperature and road conditions. A temporary "cold patch" is used at lower temperatures during late winter. Hot mix asphalt is applied at higher temperatures as a long-term fix, according to state highway officials.

"A lot of potholes came after the rain and the warm temperatures after the real cold temperatures," Mr. Laakso said. "We've had a lot more this week."

A close encounter with a crater can lead to wrecked tires, wheels, and suspension components, according to State Farm. A study by the insurance company shows that vehicle repairs from damage caused by a pothole can cost drivers, on average, anywhere from $300 to $700.

Motorists usually eat the cost of pothole-induced damages to their vehicles, though some motorists submit pothole repair claims to their private insurance companies. Other motorists file claims with the city or town where the damage occurred.

David M. Moore, city solicitor in Worcester, said the city appropriates money in the budget every year for claims of all sorts, including potholes, and court judgments.

"The potholes appear it seems literally by the thousands overnight," Mr. Moore said. "The DPW knows this weather phenomenon is coming, and is ready."

Mr. Moore said for a claim to be considered, a pothole must be reported and not repaired within a reasonable amount of time.

"We are restricted by law to pay only when there is negligence," Mr. Moore said. He said the first thing city officials do is check call logs to see when a complaint about a particular pothole was first reported and how many times it was reported.

Mr. Moore said that more potholes are bound to appear in early spring.

"So just take it easy," he said. "We've all hit them, and we've all said, 'I never saw them coming.'"

Local and state officials have the same advice regarding potholes: Report them.

If you see a pothole on a state highway or roadway, call MassDOT at (857) 368-4636 or (877) 623-6846. In cities and towns, report potholes to departments of public works.